Boiler cleaner



Aug. 19, 1930. w. P. THOMAS 1,773,125

BOILER CLEANER Filed Nov. 6, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l attorney Aug. 19, 1930. w. P. THOMAS BOILER CLEANER Filed Nov. 6*, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Hor-nua@ w. P. THOMASA BOILER CLEANER Filed NOV. 6, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l v l l gnventoz 775% s? 774m `as attenuato Patented Aug. 19, 1930 unirse STATES rAranrorrlcE `WILLIS P. THOMAS, OF DETROIT, MICHLGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DIAMOND POWER SECIALTY CORPORATION, OF DETROTT, MICHIGAN, .A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN BOLER CLEANER Application filed November which the blower pipe or unit extends, a resiln ient support for theblower pipe header, and means for providing a supply of cleaning fluid to the blower pipe during continued movement of the blower pipe in one direction. The invention further resides in such features of construction and arrangements and combinations of parts as will more fully hereinafter appear.

Tn boiler cleaners of the general type above described the unit is hung from orpotherwise mountedL upon the tubes of the boiler. Since ,the boiler tubes in expanding and contracting under heat tend to move relative to the boiler setting means have heretofore been provided for permitting the blower unit to pass through the boiler settingin sucha manner as to prevent the binding of the blower unit when being turned. The presentconstruction not only provides improved means for sealing the opening through which the blower pipe extends but it also provides a resilient mounting for the blower pipe head in which the tubes are relieved from the weight of the head without interferring with the relative move4 ment of the blower unit with reference tothe boiler setting.

In the drawings Y Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing several blower units embodying my invention applied to a water tube boiler. n

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section partly in velevation through one of the units.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the parts shown lin Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the valve actuating` cam;

6, 1922. Serial N0. 539,330.

l igures 5 and 6 are elevational views of the cam at right angles withFigure 4;

Figures 7 8, 9 are respectively section views along 7 in Figure 4, 8-8, and 9 9 in Figure 5; y

Figure 10 is a detail fragmentary view illustrating the trigger pivotal mounting.

Describing in detail the particular embodiment of my invention shown in the drawrings, 1l designates boiler ofthe Stirling type, although the invention is lnot limitedtothe particular formof boiler shown? In this boiler a plurality of upper drums 2 are connected to a lower drum 3 by a series of banks of tubes 4. For cleaning the sootifrom these tubes a plurality of blowerl units 5 are provided. these f blower units being distributedI in certain prc Vdetermined portions ofthe boiler so as to clean the soot from the tubesl ofthe boilers without striking againstV the baffles or other parts which might be injured, while accomplishing this result with the smallest number of units practical.

. The blower units are of the type shown in Figure 2 in which there is a rotatable blower pipe or tubular member 6 connected by a coupling Ga to the tube swivel 7 which latter is journaled into the non-rotatable part or head 8. This head is formed with a flanged gooseneck 9 which atits lower end is secured to a flange 1() on the stationary inlet pipe 11. YTo provide a certain degree of resiliency the latter is preferably provided with -bend 12 in the pipe for yielding a limited amount as hereinafter described. Steam ,to the blower unit 6 lfrom .the inlet pipe y11 is controlled by a valve 12 which seats against ra valve seat 13 and is normally held against its seat by a valve spring 14. The construction of parts is such that the valve 12 is normally held to its seat 13 by the spring 14 and is only opened when the valve stem 15 is forced down by the trigger 16,'the latter being operated by a cam v17, which rotates with the blower pipe 6,` Tt will be noted from Figure 8 of the drawings .that the cam 17 is av 3600 cam, the inset portion'17 ofthe cam permitting trigger 16'to seat valve 12 at one point of the cam only, that point occurring in the position shown inFigure 3, This blower pipe 6 is f-provided with a plurality of jet nozzles 18` vwhich dischar e steam against the surfaces of the boiler tu s 4. vReferring particularly Ato Figures 4 to 9, I

"`5\have,shownwin detail the construction of the in theaevyipws the cam is formed fbotwein points 17.-and 17 with twotracks 'y or faces 17* endl?" for convenience referred ya .satire inner and; outer tracks respectively. track Liaformed with the inset n ,17' aforesaid which in the clockwise l' '"rotation of thecam,-aaeeen in Figure 4, is enable with trigger which is depressed thereby unseating theivalve 12. "Upon conns t clockwise rotation of the cam'the upinettrgger enjtlwifride on the sin le track T'filwhich as s own in j 6 with @attacks 17- and 17, the e being heldlnseated. When the cam r, the com lation-of a 360` revolution, the trigger en iashunted on to the track f"1 e ,the upstanding guide rib 17, thus pre- I; the tri geref. om moving to restore y. ve to sea "position Further clock- -gotation ofwftheyeamcauses the trigger -i .mve in trackfifflwwhich at point 17 d com- "nicates 'with single track 17 and if defthis cycle`if30 rotation ma be rem K vmahy timeaasdesired.V Y en it's toseatthe valvegafterom orimo're retointions of dgeachtlthe operator rotates ,the cani until theftijiggenend passes the point lf1W.whereu on the, chin 'moved in the re'- lveree direction, pemistn the tri ger to ride Qi.; down the inset tiipn 1 and o the inner and tlxcreof....` is thus in the nature fof a spiral cam". i 1

AS shown in u, u 10, the trigger is ivupon a jtfl supported bya station- -bracket ("iglfl'tgis"ajspring normally ...ylliingly the trigger toward the face ofthe gear andin tion to be engaged by the-lower insetthe cam, the spring l .A PBITmitting yieldingof the trigger when 'the naar is mevedt che rib 17l -frm the 17* to the opttlf'slyiunt track 17? as afore- `l elowereadyof .the tr', ger ispr0- with anopenlntg it?? which s somewhat dialietp.; anthat of the pin 17' i i 1, ittingaslight lat- Y, the trlg er 1n mov- 'lie reak ily underjiuitybe'secured to the face bysuitable such as fasteners A trlbwerjpipe through a lwall {f1-*9' and is supportedby o1amps2() from 'tubes 4". `aan'nlch as these tubes,

` GX'PSSO.' 'titi contraction move relai theboiler?A p Q, the side boiler wall ivfprOVlded Withgn enlarged aperture 22V `ila-,winch the 'wan-Box 19 seats. he'inside g, `r of isfconsiderably larger th the outside ofthefblower pipe 6 the latteris free to move with" reference to the boiler setting. For sealing the opening in the wall box 19 there is provided a sealing plate 23 which is normally held against the wall box flange 24 by means of a sprin 25.

In or er to prevent the entire weight of the blower pipe head being carried by the inlet pipe and the boiler tubes there is provided a novelspring suspension as follows: Ex. tending outwardly from the wall box liange 7s 24 is a cap screw 26 which extends through slots 27 in a iloater cap 28. Housed within` the latter is a spring 29 which at its lower end abuts against the cap screw 26 and at its upper end against a retaining disk 30. The position of the latter, with reference to y the top of the Vfloating cap, is adjustable by a ,Set screw 31 so that the amount of tension of the spring 29 can be adjusted. The Heater cap 28 carries the sealing plate 23 whicha is loosely sleeved upon the blower pipe 6 and thus through the swivel tube 7 carries the head 8.

Also extending outwardly from the wall box ilange 24 and carried thereby is a studn 32 which extends through a slot 33 in the bracket 34. The slot 33 is of considerably larger diameter than stud32, thus permitting bracket 34 to move freely in the plane of the, boiler wall while preventing movement trans-5 versely thereof. The bracket is secured at its lower end by a cap screw 35 and its upper end by a tie rod 36 to the head 8. In the above construction, it willbe noted that the head, as well as the blower unit 6, has a spring suspension or yielding support from the Wall ox and is thus in reality carried by the side boiler wall while still free to move with reference thereto. Also the return-bends 12 in the inlet pipes permit suilicient yielding 165 with reference to the stationary pipe parts so as to make a substantially full floating head arrangement. Because of the high temperatures to which the blower pipe 1s subjected and the possibility of its warping, the above described mounting is one of great material advantage. A suitable packing gland 39 and packing 40 are provided, sealing the swivel )aint between the blower pipe and the head. For rotating the blower plpe with a slow but steady motion a gear 41 is carried by a collar 42 fixed on the blower pipe, this caring meshing in turn with a pinion 43 xed to rotate with the sheave wheel 44 mounted on p the tie rod 36 and operated by chain 45 ezt-120 tending to a convenient position near the blower end of the boiler. By this arrangement the blower pipe is not only conveniently rotated but the valve controlling the supply of steam to such unit is also automatically operated from the same control mechanism.

In rotating the blower pipe 6, the sheave 44 is rotated by chain 45 thereby causing pinion 43 to rotate gear 41. ',Itotation of the gear 4l also causes rotation of blower pipe 6 and 'W lll uns

in timed relation therewith causes cam 17 to act upon trigger 16 to hold valve 12 unseated for a 360 revolution of the blower pipe 6 and cam 17.

What I' claim as my invention is:

1. In a boiler cleaner, a rotatable blower element, a cleaning fluid supply pipe comunicating with said clement to supply cleaning fluid thereto, a valve controlling the passage of cleaning fluid to said blower element, a cam actuated upon rotation of the blower element, means actuated by the cam upon rotation of the blower element in one direction for unseating the valve, said cam having provision for acting on said means for holding the valve unseated for 360D of rotation of said blower elelnent in the said direction, while permitting said valve to close upon rotation of said blower element in the other direction.

2. In a boiler cleaner, a rotatable blower element, a cleaning fluid supply pipe communicating with said element to supply cleaning fluid thereto, a valve controlling the pasy sage of cleaning fluid to said blower element,

- a cam actuated upon rotation of the blower element, means actuated by the cam upon rotation of the blower element in one direction for unseating the valve, said cam having provision for acting on said means for holding the valve unseated for one or more complete rotations of the blower element in t-he said direction while permitting said valve to close upon rotation of the blower element in the other direction.

3. In a boiler cleaner, a rotatable blower element, a cleaning fluid supply pipe communicating with said element to supply cleaning fluid thereto, a valve controlling the passage of cleaning fluid to said blower element, a cam actuated upon movement of said blower element and means actuated by the cam for unseating the valve when the blower element is turned in one direction, said cam Y being formed to act on said means for holding the valve unseated for 360o of rotation ot said blower element, said cam also being formed upon rotation of the blower element in the opposite direction from that aforesaid to release said means to permit seating of the valve.

4. In a boiler cleaner, a rotatable blower pipe, a cleaning fluid supply pipe communieating with said blower pipe, a valve controlling the passage of the fluid to said blower pipe, a cam for actuating the valve mounted to rotate with the blower pipe, means for rotating the blower pipe to cause said cam to fully unseat the valve in timed relation with the rotation of the blower pipe to supply fluid to the blower pipe, said cam being formed to maintain said valve fully unseated during a 360 rotation of said blower pipe but being movable to a position to permit seating of said valve.

said cam to fully unseat the valve for supplying fluid to said blower pipe for a period corresponding to 360o of rotation thereof, said cam being movable in a direction to permit seating of said valve.

6. In combination a blower element mounted for unlimited movement in two directions, means for moving said element in the said two directions, a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to said element, and

means operable upon movement of said blower element in one of said .directions to open said valve and to hold said valve open during the continued movement of said blower element in the said direction, said means being also operable to permit closing of said valve upon movement of said blower element in the other direction.

7. In combination, a blower element mounted for unlimited rotation, means for rotating said element, a valve for controlling the flow ot' cleaning fluid to sai-d element, and means operable on rotation of said blower element in one direction to open said valve and to hold said valve open during the continued rotation of said blower element in the said direction, said means being also operable to permit closing of said valve upon a reverse rotation of said blower element.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIS P. THOMAS. 

